The Fire Brigades Union in Avon have slammed politicians on their fire authority after they agreed to increase the pay of the chief fire officer and the “Service Management Board” by 10% despite recent austerity cuts which have seen 86 frontline firefighter posts cut in the last few years.
The pay increase, which equates to around £70,000 added to the wage bill, was agreed at the fire authority meeting on 27 March. The increase was opposed by the Labour members on the authority but the vote was carried after Tory and Lib Dem members joined forces to push it through.
Speaking after the debate Chris Taylor, secretary of the FBU in Avon, said: “Firefighters in Avon will be furious at this decision. At a time when budgets are being slashed and frontline posts are getting cut, it simply beggars belief that the authority would take this decision.
“In Avon we have lost 86 frontline firefighter posts since the start of austerity and firefighters have seen their pay plummet in real terms during the same period.
“It is worse than insulting to firefighters that the fire authority, against this background, now sees fit to increase the pay of the top earners in organisation. It is sheer hypocrisy.”
